(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 17) – The McKendree University men's D3 hockey team will play their first home contests of the season after playing the first 14 games on the road. The Pioneers from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will come to the McKendree Metro Rec Plex for a two game series on Friday and Saturday.
 
Friday's game is set to begin at 7:30p.m. with Saturday's game slated for 5:45p.m.
 
McKendree returns to the ice after defeating Missouri State University 5-3 back on Dec. 8.
 
The Bearcats enter the series at 5-9 overall and 2-2 overall in the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA). Sophomores Garrett Poole (Columbia, IL/Columbia High School) and Derek Northrop (St. Louis, MO/De Smet Jesuit High School) lead the offensive charge for the Bearcats. Poole records a team-leading 11 assists and 18 points and Northrop leads the team with 10 goals.
 
In net, freshman Joey Bernardini (Chesterfield, MO/Christian Brothers College High School) has a 2-4 record, 3.71 goals against average with a .888 save percentage. Senior Zachary Allen (Wexford, PA/North Allegheny) sports a 3-3 record, 5.17 goals against average with a .793 save percentage with one shutout.
 
About Wisconsin-Platteville:
The Pioneers open the series at 12-4 overall, as these will be their first games of the 2019 calendar year. Ryan Panten is the leading goal-getter for Platteville with 19 goals, and tied for the team-lead in points with 41. The primary netminder is Carter Fens who supports a 9-2 record, 2.99 goals against average with a .900 save percentage.

If you cannot attend, both games will be broadcasted here: https://www.glvcsn.com/mckendree/.